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September 07, 2005
Comments from Peter Thoemke
I’ve started this letter several times and it’s turned into an I-me personal history, who cares? The east bank theatre experience is spotty for me because while I was involved, I was a Poli-Sci, Philosophy and History major before I finally declared fro theatre the end of my sophomore year right before the move to Rarig.
My years at the U were marked by many incredibly caring people, one is lucky to have a mentor, I had three. Doc Whiting, Robert Moulton and Charles Nolte, all welcomed me into their lives and their generousity influences my actions today and every day. I’ve been truly blessed. In addition, David Thompson, Lee Adey, Kenneth Graham, Virginia Fredericks, Jeanne Gongdon, Lance Brockman, Gino Montgomery, Wes Balk, Elizabeth Nash, Wendal Josal, Dale Huffington, Vern Sutton… all went out of their way, took time, invested their enthusiasm and love in this local boy. I am forever grateful.
I am a storyteller not a writer but here are some topics that might elicit some response from alums.
Arthur Ballet’s 101 in Scott Auditorium
Air Condition free acting and movement
Classes Spring Quarters in Westbrook Hall
Fencing with Tezla
Lee Adey’s directing classes in the Annex on University Ave.
Wes Balk’s “Shakespeare Games” vs. Augsburg College in Shevlin Arena
The loan play library
My first ever acting class was conducted by Bush-McKnight fellow by the name of Peter Michael Goetz
Doc Whiting’s unforgettable production of the Steven Foster Story on the Showboat and his Peter Quince in a very forgettable Midsummer Night’s Dream that same summer.
Acting for the camera with Warren Frost (Warren called me into his office, told me he thought I was a nice guy and I should get out of the business before I got hurt. Subsequently, he cast me as Renfield in his hit production of Dracula at Chimera Theatre and then played by daddy, H. C. Curry in the Gurthrie’s 1986, The Rainmaker.)
Bob Moulton’s movement classes
“Errol Flynn’s Revenge,” Fencing and Staged Combat Recitals Spring Quarters ’76 and ’77.
Peter Thoemke
Posted by utheatre at September 7, 2005 10:26 PM | Memories of former students
Comments
I was a wide eyed Freshman at U.H. 1974. I was there for two years until 1976 before going on to train at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
During this time, there were hundreds of students who auditioned for the mainstage shows. I was fortunate to be cast in small parts in Arms and the Man directed by Lee Adey and Little Foxes Directed by Charles Nolte. I couldn't possibly have been more green but I was treated well by the talented grad students in those shows. They were really good and they inspired me to push my work up to the next level.
Peter Thoemke was especially generous with me. He showed me the ropes. He let me hang out with him. He gave me rides. We watched Monty Python together. To me was kind of an artistic big brother. (Thanks Peter).
Charles Nolte became an important figure in my career. He served as a core faculty member for my Individualized B.A. in Performing Arts degree at U.H. and I have been sending him telephone reports from the field about all my professional accomplishments ever since. Charles also gave me rides. After reahearsal on the West Bank, in the dead of winter,he would drop me off at Pioneer Hall on his way home. I once asked Charles for a single piece of advice about being a successful artist. He answered quickly "Keep a journal" and droive off. I kept a journal and this is the reason why I can write. (Thanks Charles. I'll call soon.)
I took Arthur Ballet's legendary, no nonsense, Intro to Theatre class when he did it at Rarig. Arthur suffered no fools in that class and it was not uncommon for him to simply stop his lecture and throw someone out of the hall if they were holding a side conversation. I rememember once he spotted a strange face in the back of the theatre, stopped his lecture, asked the young man what he was doing there, discovered the guy just wanted sit in to check it out and promptly threw him out too. I remember hearing that Arthur was afraid of being shot as he stood up there lecturing but this might just be heresay. Regardless, Dr. Ballet ran a TIGHT ship.
Tracy
Posted by: Tracy Anderson at March 17, 2006 04:04 PM
Are you sure 11703 about this?!?
Posted by: Flots Masriach at September 15, 2006 08:21 AM